Cattle stanchion apparatus

ABSTRACT

Cattle stanchion apparatus in which a plurality of fixed and release stanchions define a row of head openings for animals, the release stanchions tending to pivot to open positions. Double latches at the upper extremities of the release stanchions are engageable by couplers carried by a rotatable and axially movable positioner. An operating mechanism is actuable to axially move the positioner and engage the latches of the release stanchions to move them in unison, and an associated rotating mechanism is actuable to rotate the positioner and thereby move the couplers into and out of possible engagement with the latches. The arrangement gives the operator the capability of moving all of the release stanchions to closed positions to lock the animals in the feeding stalls, or allowing the animals individually to actuate the system to lock themselves in, or allowing the animals to enter and leave the stalls as they wish. The latches are manually manipulatable to quickly and safely release downed cattle from individual feeding stalls.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of applicant's .[.co-pending.].application Ser. No. 431,264, filed Sept. 30, 1982, .[.and.]. entitled"Cattle Stanchion Apparatus".Iadd., issued Oct. 16, 1984 as U.S. Pat.No. 4,476,815.Iaddend..

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cattle stanchion apparatus and moreparticularly to cattle stanchion apparatus capable of actuation toquickly and easily release downed cattle.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of cattle stanchion apparatus are disclosed in the priorart, and particularly in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,566, issued July 26,1977, and entitled "Cattle Locking Apparatus"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,813,issued Oct. 4, 1977, and entitled "Locking Stanchion for Cattle"; U.S.Pat. No. 4,185,592, issued Jan. 29, 1980, and entitled "Cattle StanchionApparatus"; and my copending patent application Ser. No. 431,264, filedSept. 30, 1982, and entitled "Cattle Stanchion Apparatus". Such priorart appartuses typically employ couplers selectively engageable with therelease stanchions for opening and closing feeding stalls for thecattle. Such apparatuses are generally not capable of enabling rapid andhazard free movement of a single release stanchion to open a stall andpermit a downed animal to be freed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invetion provides cattle stanchion apparatus in which fixedstanchions and release stanchions define head openings for animals suchas dairy cows, each release stanchion being pivotally mounted, andtending to fall or pivot to an open position in which the lower portionof the release stanchion is presented for engagement by the animal as itlowers its head to feed. The animal's head pivots the release stanchionto a closed position. Double latches on the upper portion of eachrelease stanchion are freely pivotable relative to an elongatedpositioning means, provided couplers on the positioning means arelocated out of possible engagement by the latches.

The present apparatus includes a locking or rotating means for rotatingthe positioning means so that its couplers are aligned for engagementwith the latches of the release stanchions or, alternatively, to placeits couplers out of alignment for such engagement. When the couplers arealigned for engagement with the latches, axial movement of thepositioning means by the dairyman is effective to move the releasestanchions to closed positions. Alternatively, proper placement of thepositioning means, with the couplers in position for engagement with therelease stanchion latches, enables each release stanchion to be moved toand locked in its closed position by the animal itself.

The foregoing arrangement enables the operator to move all of therelease stanchions to their locked positions, or he can manipulate theapparatus to permit the cattle to move the release stanchions to theirclosed positions and lock themselves in place without operatorintervention, or he can permit the cattle to move the release stanchionsfreely between open and closed positions so that they can feed or leaveas they wish.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of doublelatches and associated couplers for each release stanchion which, inaddition to performing the functions just mentioned, can also be quicklyand easily operated to allow movement of an individual release stanchionto enlarge the stall or head opening and permit easy removal of a cowdowned in the stall.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one end of a cattle stanchionappparatus according to the present invention, illustrating thepositioner in its retracted, locking position, with the rotating meansin its upper or locked position, the double couplers in their lockingpositions, and the release stanchion in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the releasestanchion in its open position and the double couplers rotated to theirrelease positions;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the double couplersrotated to their locking positions and the release stanchion in itsdowned cattle release position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating manual raising andrelease of one of the latches to enable movement of the associatedrelease stanchion to the position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the double couplersin their release positions, with the safety coupler in position toreleasably prevent movement of the associated release stanchion to theposition of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating a second embodimentof the inventor in which the safety coupler and one of the doublecouplers are combined in a single element mounted to the positioner;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the secondembodiment, the full and phantom line positions illustrating movement ofthe release stanchion to the downed cattle release position subsequentmanual raising and release of one of the latches;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating a third embodimentof the invention in which the safety coupler and one of the doublecouplers are combined in a single element mounted to the cattlestanchion top rail; and

FIG. 12 is a view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a cattle stanchionapparatus of the type in which a plurality of upright, horizontallyspaced apart bars or rods 10 extend between and are welded to a tubulartop rail 12 and a tubular bottom rail 14. The stanchion apparatusincludes a plurality of tubular vertical end rails 16, only one of whichis illustrated, which are secured to the ground or other supportingstructure (not shown) at its lower end.

At horizontally spaced intervals, larger tubular fixed stanchions 18,only one of which is illustrated, are welded or otherwise rigidlysecured at their upper and lower extremities to the top and bottom rails12 and 14. Above its midportion each stanchion 18 is preferably bent oroffset to the left, as seen in FIG. 1, so as to define with an adjacentelongated release stanchion 22 a head opening 20. The release stanchion22 is similarly bent or deformed to the left above its midportion tothereby define a head opening 20 of generally uniform width from top tobottom, as seen in FIG. 1.

Although only one fixed stanchion 18 and release stanchion .[.20.]..Iadd.22 .Iaddend.are illustrated, it will be understood that thearrangement is repeated at regular intervals along the length of thepresent apparatus to define as many head openings 20 as may be desired.Likewise, although the following disclosure is primarily limited to adescription of the operation of the components for one head opening 20,it will be understood that a plurality of sets of such components areemployed for the plurality of head openings 20, unless otherwiseindicated.

Each release stanchion 22 is mounted for pivotal movement between aclosed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and an open position, asillustrated in FIG. 2. In the embodiment illustrated, the pivotalmovement is about an axis located between the oppsite extremities of therelease stanchion, the axis being defined by a pivot bolt 24 carried bya bracket 26. The bracket 26 is welded to a section of relatively heavytubing 28 which is offset at approximately its mid portion toward thehead opening 20. The offset is quite severe to define a head opening 20which, in the open position of the release stanchion 22, is relativelywide at its top and narrow in the middle. When the release stanchion 22is in the downed cattle release position of FIG. 3, as will be seen, theconfiguration of the tubing 28 defines a relatively wide bottom opening.

The release stanchion 22 is preferably mounted below its midpoint sothat it is heavier above the pivot bolt 24. It will therefore pivot toand remain in its open position in the absence of any other constraint.Various other means may be provided to induce this tendency to pivot toan open position, as discussed in my copending patent application Ser.No. 431,264.

In the open position of the release stanchion 22, as seen in FIG. 2, theenlarged head opening 20 enables an animal easily to place its headthrough the opening 20 for feeding from a feed trough (not shown)located on the other side of the present apparatus.

When an animal places its head in the opening 20, and dips or lowers itshead into the feed trough, the lower portion of the release stanchion 22is engaged by the animal's neck. This causes the release stanchion topivot from its open position toward its closed position. As will beseen, the present apparatus can be arranged to allow the releasestanchion to pivot to its open position when the animal raises its head,thereby freeing the animal to leave the feeding stall without anyoperator intervention. The apparatus can also be arranged to lock therelease stanchion in its closed position so that operator interventionis necessary in order to allow the animal to leave the feeding stall.

A latching means is mounted to the upper end of each release stanchion22, comprising a bracket 30 defined by a pair of spaced apart circularplates 31 bolted to the stanchion 22 and straddling opposite sides ofthe top rail 12, as best seen in FIG. 4. Sufficient clearance existsbetween the top rail 12 and the plates 31 to enable the bracket 30 tomove generally longitudinally relative to the rail 12 during pivotalmovement of the release stanchion 22.

The upper portions of the plates 31 mount a pair of pivot pins 34 and 35which extend over the top of the top rail 12 and pivotally support theinner extremities, respectively, of a pair of elongated, channel shapelatches 32 and 33.

The opposite channel legs of the free ends of the latches 32 and 33straddle an elongated rod or positioner 36 which overlies and extendssubstantially parallel to the top rail 12. The positioner 36 alsounderlies the pivot pins 34 and 35 of all the release stanchions 22. Thepositioner 36 is rotatably and axially supported at intervals along itslength by loops or eyes 38 (only one of which is illustrated) encirclingthe positioner 36. A threaded shank of each eye 28 extends through thetop rail 12 and is held in position by a nut 40.

The positioner 36 is axially slideably movable through the eyes 38between the retracted position of FIG. 1 and an extended position inwhich the positioner 36 is located to the left of the position of FIG.1, as will be described.

The smooth cylindrical exterior of the rod or positioner 36 does notconstrain the free or unpivoted ends of the latches 32 and 33 fromsliding back and forth over the positioner 36 during pivotal movement ofthe release stanchion 22 between its open and closed positions. However,for each head opening 20 a pair of bolts are fixed within suitablelongitudinally spaced apart openings in the positioner 36 so that theirprojecting heads define a double coupler comprising couplers 42 and 43.These are engageable by the free or unpivoted extremities of the latches32 and 33, depending upon the rotated and axial locations of thepositioner 36.

In operation the latches 32 and 33 fall of their own weight or, ifdesired, are urged downwardly by suitable springs (not shown), so thattheir free edges are urged onto the couplers 42 and 43. This affects thefreedom of the release stanchion 22 to pivot, depending upon thedirection of movement of the latches relative to the couplers, as willbe seen.

A third bolt is disposed through a suitable opening in the positioner 36transversely of the axes of the bolts for the double couplers 42 and 43.The projecting head of this third bolt defines a safety coupler 45. Itis engageable by the free end of the latch 33 in certain rotatedpositions of the positioner 36, as will be seen.

As best seen in FIG. 1, axial movement of the positioner 36 is effectedby an operator assembly 44. This assembly is described in detail in my.[.copending application Ser. No. 431,264,.]. .Iadd.U.S. Pat. No.4,476,815; .Iaddend.and reference is made to that .[.application.]..Iadd.patent .Iaddend.for a fuller disclosure of its operation. However,in general, the assembly 44 comprises an elongated bar 46 pivotallyconnected at its left extremity to a cylindrical sleeve 48. The sleeve48 is rotatably carried by the positioner 36 and is axially fixed inposition by a pair of collars 49. The collars 49 are fixed to thepositioner 36 by usual set screws (not shown) extending through thesleeve 48 and bearing against the outer surface of the positioner 36.

The opposite or handle end of the bar 46 is pivotally connected betweena pair of elongated links 50, only one of which is shown, which are eachintegrally secured at one end to a handle 52. The other end of each ofthe links 50 is pivotally secured to an upstanding pair of straps 54,only one of which is shown, fixed to the upper rail 12. Upward movementof the handle 52 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 axially movesthe positioner 36 to the left from the retracted position of FIG. 1 toan extended position (not shown).

The positioner 36 is rotatable about its axis by a locking or rotatingmeans to move the couplers 42 and 43 into and out of their uppermostpositions, and thus in and out of the path of engagement with thelatches 32 and 33. This rotating means is more particularly described inmy .[.copending application Ser. No. 431,264.]. .Iadd.U.S. Pat. No.4,476,815.Iaddend.. In general, the rotating means comprises anelongated handle .[.54.]. .Iadd.55 .Iaddend.that can be raised andlowered to rotate the positioner 36 through approximately a 90° angle.The handle .[.54.]. .Iadd.55 .Iaddend.is welded at its inner end to anannular collar 56 fixed to the positioner 36 by a usual set screw (notshown).

In operation, if the release stanchion 22 is locked in the closedposition of FIG. 1, the dairyman can move all of the release stanchions22 to their open positions by raising the handle 52. Each coupler 43will engage the adjacent latch 33 and move the associated releasestanchion 22 open. At this point the free end of each latch 33 isengaged by a coupler 43 so that no animal can pivot the releasestanchion 22 open. It is to be noted also that in this position of thecomponents, particularly because of the engagement of the free ends ofthe latches 32 by the couplers 42, a dairyman could simply lower thehandle 52 to carry all of the release stanchions 22 to the rightsimultaneously to lock in cattle in feeding positions, or lock outcattle not then feeding, as he wishes.

Assuming the release stanchions 22 have just been moved to their openpositions by the dairyman, he can lower the handle 52 to move thepositioner 36 to the right without also moving the release stanchion 22to their open positions by first rotating the handle .[.54.]. .Iadd.55.Iaddend.to position the couplers 42 and 43 to the side and out of thepath of the latches 32 and 33. At this point the coupler 45 will beupwardly disposed in the path of engagement with latch 33. This positionof the components is illustrated in FIG. 2.

As seen in FIG. 2, the weight of each release stanchion 22 will maintainit in the open position illustrated, but cows can move the stanchionsand freely enter and leave the feeding stalls as they like. This isbecause the couplers 42 and 43 are horizontally disposed and out of thepath of the latches 32 and 33, and the release stanchions 22 can swingfreely between their open and closed positions as cattle enter andwithdraw from the head openings 20.

However, with the safety coupler 45 upwardly located, the releasestanchion 22 is prevented from pivoting beyond the closed position ofFIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3. If the release stanchion 22 werepermitted to freely pivot to the position of FIG. 3 during cattlefeeding, with one cow's head in the lower part of the head opening 20,another cow could and often would insert its head in the upper spacedefined between the tubing 28 and the release stanchion 22. This wouldpresent a potential danger to one or both cows and would at the leastrequire the immediate attention of a dairyman who could otherwise beemployed in some more productive task.

If the dairyman wants the cows to lock themselves in once they enter thefeeding stalls, and again assuming that each release stanchion 22 hasfallen open of its own weight to the position of FIG. 2, he moves thehandle 55 to locate the positioner 36 in the rotated position of FIG. 1.This locates the safety coupler 45 horizontally disposed and out of theway, and locates the double couplers 42 and 43 in their uppermost,vertically disposed positions in the path of engagement with the latches32 and 33. In this position the latch 33 rests on and is adapted toslidably pass to the right of the coupler 42.

As a cow dips its head downwardly in the head opening 20 and engages therelease stanchion 22, it pivots the stanchion to the position of FIG. 1.The latches 32 and 33 ride into positions between the couplers 42 and43, as seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. This prevents pivotal movement of therelease stanchion 22 from this closed position in either direction,either to an open position or to the cattle down release position ofFIG. 3. The cow thus has locked itself in.

Whether the cattle are locked in their feeding positions, by virtue oflocation of the latches 32 and 33 in the positions of FIG. 5, or whetherthe cattle are in their free feeding positions, in which the latches 32and 33 are movable between the full line and phantom line positionsillustrated in FIG. 7, it is possible for a cow to fall or becomesdowned, jamming its head into the lower portion of the head opening 20.Removal of the cow's head from this narrow opening is not possibleunless the release stanchion 20 can be pivoted clockwise to widen thespace at the lower part of the head opening 20. In certain systems ofthe prior art, including a system disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No.4,185,592, issued Jan. 29, 1980 for Cattle Stanchion Apparatus, thelower end of the release stanchions was normally held against movementto the position of FIG. 3 by engagement with a bracket on the bottomrail 14 which could be kicked out of the way by the dairyman. Moving thebracket released the stanchion so that it could be moved to the positionof FIG. 3. However, reaching the bracket was awkward because of thepresence of the downed cow. Further, once the bracket was reached andkicked out of the way the animal could slump farther down and sometimestrap or injure the dairyman's leg.

With the arrangement of the preset invention, a dairyman can quicklyfree the release stanchion 22 for movement from the position of FIG. 1to that of FIG. 3. He simply grasps the free end of the latch 33 andraises it so that it clears the coupler 43, as illustrated in FIG. 6, orso that it clears the coupler 45, depending upon whether the positioner36 is is in the free feeding position of FIGS. 2 and 7 or the cattleretention position of FIGS. 4 and 5. This can be done withoutendangering the dairyman, and it is effective to quickly open a widespace at the bottom of the head opening 20 to facilitate extrication ofa downed cow. Once the cow is extricated, the location of the latch 32on top of the coupler 43 allows the release stanchion 22 to be simplypulled or kicked to the left or counter clockwise to locate it so thatthe latch 33 is to the left of the couplers 43 and 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, there is illustrated a second embodiment ofthe present invention which is substantially identical to the firstembodiment in function and structure, except for the coupler arrangementand the size of the cooperating latches. Like numerals are employed todenote like parts in the two embodiments, with letter subscripts beingused to denote parts having a slightly different structure, butessentially the same function. Thus, instead of using a second coupler43 and safety coupler 45, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a collarcoupler 58 is used to provide the functions of those two parts.

Collar coupler 58 is cylindrical in form and is slidably fitted over anend of the tubular positioner 36, as best seen in FIG. 10. The collarcoupler 58 is held, in the same longitudinal position as were thecouplers 43 and 45 of the first embodiment, by a set screw 60 threadedthrough a suitable opening in the collar coupler and bearing against theadjacent surface of the positioner 36.

The collar coupler 58, like the first embodiment coupler 43, is adaptedto engage a latch, in this case a wider latch 33a, to move the releasestanchion 22 to an open position when the handle 52 is raised.

Should it be necessary when the stanchion 22 is in the closed positionof FIGS. 1 and 5 to move the stanchion 22 to the downed cattle releaseposition of FIG. 3, the dairyman can simply lift the latch 33a so thatit will clear the collar coupler 58. In the downed cattle position thelatch 32a will rest on top of the coupler collar 58, as seen in phantomoutline in FIG. 11. After the downed cow is extricated, the channel legsof the wider latch 32a easily slide past the outer surfaces of thecoupler collar 58 to allow the release stanchion to move back to theclosed position of FIG. 5.

Since the collar coupler 58 projects outwardly of the positioner 36throughout its circumference, the coupler 58 normally engages the latch33a in the closed position of the stanchion 22 and prevents movement ofthe stanchion 22 to the downed cattle release position of FIG. 3,regardless of the rotated position of the positioner 36, that is,regardless of whether the positioner 36 is arranged to lock the cattlein, or is arranged to allow the cattle to freely enter and leave thefeeding stall.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a third embodiment of the inventionis illustrated which is substantially identical to the secondembodiment. However, instead of using a coupler collar 58 affixed by aset screw 60 to the positioner 36, a coupler collar 58b is employedwhich encircles and axially slidably receives the positioner 36, butwhich is welded or otherwise affixed to the stationary top rail 12. Withthis arrangement the collar 58b is not operative to positively move therelease stanchions 22 to their open positions. Instead, dependence isplaced upon the weight of the release stanchions 22 to place them intheir open positions. However, there are significant advantages in thatthe cost of a threaded collar 60 and set screw 58 is eliminated, as isthe need for eyes 38 and nuts 40, inasmuch as the collar 58b axiallyslidably supports the positioner 36.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that cattle stanchion apparatushas been provided which is adapted to lock cattle in feeding stalls, orallow them to lock themselves in the stalls, or lock the cattle out ofthe stalls, or quickly enable release of a downed animal from its stall.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. In cattle stanchion apparatus including a fixed stanchion; arelease stanchion located adjacent and spaced from said fixed stanchionto define a head opening for an animal; mounting means mounting saidrelease stanchion for pivotal movement between an open position in whichthe upper part of said head opening is enlarged to enable an animal toplace its head through said head opening, and a closed position in whichsaid upper part of said opening is narrowed to hold the animal's head insaid opening, said release stanchion being supported and arranged tofall into said open position; coupler mounting means, including fixedstructure and a generally horizontally extending positionerlongitudinally movable between extended and retracted positions, andpivotable about a longitudinal axis; rotating means operative to rotatesaid positioner about said longitudinal axis between a first positionand a second position; and operator means operative to move saidpositioner between said extended and retracted positions, theimprovement comprising:coupler means including a first coupler portionmounted to said positioner and a second coupler portion mounted to saidcoupler mounting means in longitudinally spaced apart relation; and apair of latches mounted to the upper extremity of said release stanchionand adapted for location between said first and second coupler portions,said pair of latches being engageable by both said first and secondcoupler portions in said first position of said positioner wherebylongitudinal movement of said positioner between said retracted andextended positions moves said release stanchion between said closed andopen positions, said pair of latches being out of engagement with saidfirst coupler portion in said second position of said positioner wherebysaid release stanchion is freely movable between said open and closedpositions, at least one of said latches being manually actuable to clearsaid second coupler portion and thereby enable pivotal movement of saidrelease stanchion in a direction oppositely of said open position andpast said closed position to a downed animal release position whereinthe lower extremity of said release stanchion is spaced farther fromsaid fixed stanchion to define a wider space at the bottom of said headopening.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said secondcoupler portion comprises a cylindrical collar affixed to saidpositioner and projecting substantially uniformly radially outwardly ofsaid positioner.
 3. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein saidsecond coupler portion comprises a cylindrical collar affixed to saidfixed structure of said cattle stanchion apparatus and longitudinallyslidably receiving and supporting said positioner, said collarprojecting substantially uniformly radially outwardly of saidpositioner.
 4. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said releasestanchion is laterally offset toward said fixed stanchion adjacent themidportion of said release stanchion to promote movement of said releasestanchion toward said open position.
 5. The improvement according toclaim 4 wherein said fixed stanchion is also laterally offset adjacentthe midportion of said release stanchion to enlarge the midportion ofsaid head opening.
 6. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein saidpair of latches are pivotally mounted to said release stanchion withtheir free extremities projecting on opposite sides of said releasestanchion for engagement in said first position with said first andsecond coupler portions, respectively, whereby the release stanchionassociated with said latches is prevented from moving from said closedposition in one direction toward said open position, and in the oppositedirection toward said downed animal release position, said positionerbeing rotatable by said rotating means to said second position to movesaid first coupler out of said path.
 7. The improvement according toclaim 6 wherein each of said latches is manually pivotable out ofengagement with said first and second coupler portions.
 8. Theimprovement according to claim 6 wherein said first and second couplerportions in said second position are located out of the path of possibleengagement by said pair of latches, and said coupler means includes athird coupler portion mounted to said positioner and located in a pathfor engagement by one of said latches when said positioner is rotated tosaid second position whereby said release stanchion is movable towardsaid open position but is constrained by said third coupler portionagainst movement into said downed animal release position.
 9. Theimprovement according to claim 8 wherein said one of said latches ismanually pivotable out of engagement with said third coupler portion.10. In cattle stanchion apparatus including fixed and release stanchionslaterally spaced apart to define a head opening for an animal; ahorizontally extending top rail above said release stanchion; mountingmeans mounting said release stanchion for pivotal movement between anopen position in which the upper part of said head opening is enlargedto enable an animal to place its head through said opening, and a closedposition in which said upper part of said head opening is narrowed tohold the animal's head in said opening; a generally horizontallyextending positioner adjacent and parallel to said top rail,longitudinally movable between extended and retracted positions, andpivotable about a longitudinal axis; rotating means operative to rotatesaid positioner about said longitudinal axis between a first positionand a second position; and operator means operative to move saidpositioner between said extended and retracted positions, theimprovement comprising:a first coupler carried by said positioner andprojecting outwardly thereof; an elongated latch having an innerextremity pivotally mounted to the upper extremity of said releasestanchion, the outer extremity of said latch being slidable along saidpositioner in one direction to enable movement of said release stanchionfrom said closed position to said open position, said outer extremity ofsaid latch being slidable along said positioner in the oppositedirection for engagement with said first coupler in said first positionto stop movement of said release stanchion in a direction away from saidopen position and past said closed position to a downed cattle releaseposition wherein the lower extremity of said release stanchion is spacedfarther from said fixed stanchion to define a wider space at the bottomof said head opening, said latch being manually actuable to disengagesaid first coupler.
 11. The improvement according to claim 10 whereinsaid first coupler is in said first position is located for engagementwith said latch, and in said second position is located out of possibleengagement with said latch.
 12. The improvement according to claim 11including a second coupler secured to said positioner adjacent saidfirst coupler and located in said second position for engagement withsaid latch to prevent movement of said release stanchion to said downedcattle release position.
 13. The improvement according to claim 12wherein said first and second couplers are bolt heads.
 14. Theimprovement according to claim 12 wherein said first and second couplersare defined by a coupler collar disposed about and secured to said toprail for engagement with said latch in all rotated positions of saidpositioner.
 15. The improvement according to claim 12 wherein said firstand second couplers are defined by a coupler collar disposed about andsecured to said positioner.
 16. The improvement according to claim 15wherein said coupler collar projects substantially uniformly outwardlyof said positioner for engagement with said latch in all rotatedpositions of said positioner. .Iadd.
 17. In cattle stanchion apparatusincluding fixed and release stanchions laterally spaced apart to definea head opening for an animal; fixed structure including mounting meansmounting said release stanchion for pivotal movement from an openposition in which the upper part of said head opening is enlarged toenable an animal to place its head through said opening, to a closedposition in which said upper part of said head opening is narrowed tohold the animal's head in said opening, and beyond said closed positionto a downed cattle release position in which said upper part of saidopening is further narrowed and wherein the lower part of said openingis enlarged to enable a downed animal to withdraw its head; and agenerally horizontally extending positioner pivotable about alongitudinal axis between a first position and a second position; theimprovement comprising:coupler means carried by said positioner; latchmeans carried by the upper extremity of said release stanchion andhaving a latch portion movable along said positioner in one direction toenable movement of said release stanchion from said open position tosaid closed position, said latch portion being movable along saidpositioner in the opposite direction for engagement with said couplermeans in said first position of said positioner to stop movement of saidrelease stanchion from said closed position to said open position; anddowned cattle latch and coupler means operative to engage said releasestanchion in said closed position to prevent movement of said releasestanchion to said downed cattle release position, said latch and couplermeans being manually actuable to enable movement of said releasestanchion to said downed cattle release position. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18.The improvement according to claim 17 wherein said latch portionincludes an inner extremity pivotally mounted to said upper extremity ofsaid release stanchion, and further includes an outer extremity movablealong said positioner in said one direction to enable said movement ofsaid release stanchion to said closed position, also movable along saidpositioner in said opposite direction for said engagement with saidcoupler means in said first position of said positioner to stop movementof said release stanchion to said open position, and also movable alongsaid positioner in said opposite direction to clear and move past saidcoupler means in said second position to enable movement of said releasestanchion to said open position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. In cattle stanchionapparatus including fixed and release stanchions laterally spaced apartto define a head opening for an animal; a horizontally extending toprail above said release stanchion; mounting means mounting said releasestanchion for pivotal movement from an open position in which the upperpart of said head opening is enlarged to enable an animal to place itshead through said opening, to a closed position in which said upper partof said head opening is narrowed to hold the animal's head in saidopening, and beyond said closed position to a downed cattle releaseposition in which said upper part of said opening is further narrowedand wherein the lower part of said opening is enlarged to enable adowned animal to withdraw its head; and a generally horizontallyextending positioner adjacent to and parallel to said top rail, andpivotable about a longitudinal axis between a first position and asecond position; the improvement comprising:coupler means carried bysaid positioner; latch means carried by the upper extremity of saidrelease stanchion and having a latch portion movable along saidpositioner in one direction to enable movement of said release stanchionfrom said open position to said closed position, said latch portionbeing movable along said positioner in the opposite direction forengagement with said coupler means in said first position of saidpositioner to stop movement of said release stanchion from said closedposition to said open position; and downed cattle latch and couplermeans having a portion secured to said top rail, said latch and couplermeans being adapted to engage said release stanchion in said closedposition to prevent movement of said release stanchion to said downedcattle release position, said latch and coupler means being manuallyactuable to enable movement of said release stanchion to said downedcattle release position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. In cattle stanchionapparatus including fixed and release stanchions laterally spaced apartto define a head opening for an animal; fixed structure includingmounting means mounting said release stanchion for pivotal movement froman open position in which the upper part of said head opening isenlarged to enable an animal to place its head through said opening, toa closed position in which said upper part of said head opening isnarrowed to hold the animal's head in said opening, and beyond saidclosed position to a downed cattle release position in which said upperpart of said opening is further narrowed and wherein the lower part ofsaid opening is enlarged to enable a downed animal to withdraw its head,said release stanchion being supported and arranged to fall into saidopen position upon any movement of said release stanchion from saidclosed position toward said open position; and a generally horizontallyextending positioner pivotable about a longitudinal axis between a firstposition and a second position; the improvement comprising: couplermeans carried by said positioner; latch means carried by the upperextremity of said release stanchion and having a latch portion freelymovable along said positioner in one direction to enable movement ofsaid release stanchion from said open position to said closed position,said latch portion being movable along said positioner in the opposieddirection for engagement with said coupler means in said first positionof said positioner to stop movement of said release stanchion from saidclosed position to said open position, said coupler means in said secondposition of said positioner being out of possible engagement with saidlatch portion whereby said release stanchion is freely movable to saidopen position; and downed cattle latch and coupler means having aportion secured to said fixed structure, said latch and coupler meansbeing adapted to engage said release stanchion in said closed positionto prevent movement of said release stanchion to said downed cattlerelease position, said latch and coupler means being manually actuableto enable movement of said release stanchion to said downed cattlerelease position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. In cattle stanchion apparatusincluding fixed and release stanchions laterally spaced apart to definea head opening for an animal; fixed structure including mounting meansmounting said release stanchion for pivotal movement from an openposition in which the upper part of said head opening is enlarged toenable an animal to place its head through said opening, to a closedposition in which said upper part of said head opening is narrowed tohold the animal's head in said opening, and beyond said closed positionto a downed cattle release position in which said upper part of saidopening is further narrowed and wherein the lower part of said openingis enlarged to enable a downed animal to withdraw its head, said releasestanchion being supported and arranged to fall into said open positionupon any movement of said release stanchion from said closed positiontoward said open position; and a generally horizontally extendingpositioner longitudinally movable between extended and retractedpositions, and pivotable about a longitudinal axis between a firstposition and a second position; the improvement comprising: couplermeans carried by said positioner; latch means carried by the upperextremity of said release stanchion and having a latch portion movablealong said positioner in one direction to enable movement of saidrelease stanchion from said open position to said closed position, saidlatch portion being movable along said positioner in the oppositedirection for engagement with said coupler means in said first positionof said positioner to stop movement of said release stanchion from saidclosed position to said open position, said latch portion uponengagement with said coupler means in said first position of saidpositioner being movable with said positioner during movement of saidpositioner toward said retracted position; and downed cattle latch andcoupler means having a portion secured to one of said positioner andsaid fixed structure, said latch and coupler means being adapted toengage said release stanchion in said closed position to preventmovement of said release stanchion to said downed cattle releaseposition, said latch and coupler means being manually actuable to enablemovement of said release stanchion to said downed cattle releaseposition. .Iaddend.